Likewise in NZ, we only have one very distinctive accent, the Southland one that likes to roll the Rs. But as a Mainlander (i.e., the South Island), I can ofte

Likewise in NZ, we only have one very distinctive accent, the Southland one that likes to roll the Rs. But as a Mainlander (i.e., the South Island), I can often pick when someone is from Auckland, as there's more of a Polynesian influence on their vowels. (Auckland is sometimes to referred to as the unofficial capital of Tonga/Samoa as the populations of both peoples in Auckland exceeds that in their countries). In contrast, when I visited family in Rugby, UK, my uncle would amuse people at parties by parodying the (many!) varying accents found along the 55km trip from Rugby to Birmingham. I suppose it's the difference that several centuries of history makes.